Check the perimeters of the run for signs of weakness or digging. Winter is a harsh time of year for wildlife and they will be looking for easy food — do not let it be your chickens.
Although they will be less active during the winter they will still proliferate in the warmth of the coop and make nesting or roosting a miserable experience. If you want your chickens to lay through the winter then you will need to provide extra light. Always add extra light in the morning as it is better for the birds and does not strand them outside the coop when it gets dark at night.
The old chestnut of heating the coop is bound to make its annual appearance. Your chickens do not need extra heat in the coop at night providing it is draft free and dry. If you place a thermometer in your coop you should consistently find it a few degrees warmer than outside.
If you absolutely have to have some form of heat then a simple 40watt light bulb enclosed in a protective cage and is well secured should be sufficient. You can also add some electrolyte powder to their water about once a month for an extra boost. Extra nightly treats such as scratch grains or cracked corn will help to keep the birds a bit warmer thorough the night.
Mankind has an obsession with improving on nature and chickens that lay blue eggs were no exception. The only original breeds are the Araucana , Dongxiang and Lushi. Scientists are still searching for the answer. For a while blue eggs were thought to be nutritionally superior to white or brown eggs but that is not true.
They are the same in terms of nutrition. It was a marketing ploy to bring blue eggs to the attention of the public and it seems to have worked. Many folks now ask for blue eggs and some supermarkets have specialty blue eggs for sale at a premium.
Which blue egg laying chicken is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below…. Bantam chickens are the best of both worlds. They are small and compact yet have all the fantastic qualities of a regular sized chicken. However there are many things to think about when considering getting bantam chickens. Chicken water cups can make a useful little addition to your coop. These cups help to reduce wasted water, keep the water clean and best of all, they are economical.
There are a few different styles out there including no peck, in line and more. In the old days we used to put chicks or adult birds in cardboard boxes and close the lid, but that was not without problems. The boxes did not protect the birds well if there was an unforeseen accident. Collecting farm fresh eggs becomes even more fun when the shells are shades of the rainbow. From olive to pretty blue and speckled to chocolate brown, colored eggs are trending in the backyard chicken world.
No matter the shell color, your hens need calcium in their layer feed to lay strong and stay strong. Chickens that lay colored eggs Eggshell color is unique to each hen, depending on her breed and genetics. Eggshell color does not change egg nutrients; the color of the shell is simply decoration.
Hens with white earlobes typically lay white or lightly tinted eggs. Hens with red earlobes most commonly lay brown eggs, but there are always exceptions to those rules. Different shades of eggshells can come from the same bird on different days.
This is because the bloom, put on right before the egg is laid, contains a fair amount of pigment. This means you can tell the difference between males and females from just looking at them, as soon as they have hatched. The male chickens have a pale and non-distinct brown stripe while the females have a dark and bold brown stripe. They have a feathered crest, long red wattles and either a single or rose comb. They can be very noisy compared to other chicken breeds.
Egg Laying Chickens. Toni has a lot of experience with keeping pets and pet enclsoures, with her very cheeky British shorthair cat named Charlie and a rescue cat Rosie who is now nearly Toni's pets also includes Dwarf Lop rabbits and Australorp cross Chickens. Remember me Log in. Lost your password? Final note: There is no such thing as an Americana. If you run across a feed store or hatchery selling Americanas, they are likely Easter Eggers.
Articles may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. Do you know the different between the three most common blue egg layers - Ameraucana, Aruacana and Easter Egger? Easter Eggers.
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